Festival of Santa Maria Salome

A patronal feast in the heart of Ciociaria

Every autumn, the municipality of Castelliri, a village in the province of Frosinone nestled in the Ciociaria region and overlooking the Liri Valley, pays tribute to its patron saint with the Festival of Santa Maria Salome. It is the most cherished event of the year, a blend of faith, memory, and conviviality that is renewed around October 22nd, involving the entire community in the Lazio region.

Who is Santa Maria Salome?

According to tradition, Maria Salome was the sister of the Virgin Mary and the mother of the apostles James and John, one of the pious women who found the empty tomb of the risen Christ at dawn. Local devotion tells of her passing through Castelliri, where she ordered the construction of a church in her honor, which still stands in the open countryside today. For centuries, the town has venerated her twice a year: on Easter Monday and on the Sunday following October 22nd, the heart of the autumn festival.

Rites and the procession

The celebrations begin with the evocative descent of the statue into the parish church, marking the start of a week of religious services. The highlight is the long procession: the sacred image of the Saint, accompanied by that of the Madonna of the Rosary, travels through the various districts of the center until it reaches the country church dedicated to her, followed by the parish priest, civil authorities, the marching band, and the faithful. At the end, the solemn ascent of the Saint and the Holy Mass conclude the devotional journey.

Music, lights, and food

Alongside the religious rites, the festival offers a rich popular program: sacred and light music concerts in the parish church, artistic lighting along the village streets, daytime fireworks, and moments dedicated to children. The festivities conclude with the unmissable pasta alla norcina festival, featuring live musical entertainment: a traditional dish that brings families, returning emigrants, and visitors together around the town's tables.

Castelliri and the surrounding area

Visiting Castelliri during the festival means discovering an authentic corner of the province of Frosinone, between the waters of the Liri, the nearby villages of Isola del Liri and Sora, and the hilly landscapes of Ciociaria. The Festival of Santa Maria Salome is the ideal opportunity to experience a tradition rooted for generations, where the religious and community dimensions merge into a single, warm welcome.